We were all in my aunt's kitchen at the back of her huge rambling Victorian house. I was only small and had wandered off to go to the loo, but given up after finding the hall full of smoke. "That was quick," my mum said after a few minutes. "Yes - it's all smoky," I replied.

I've never seen adults move so fast.

So, like my cousin who'd managed to set fire to the roof, tell us your fire stories.

Shell Suits and Alcohol..
Back when we were 13-14, it used to be popular in the summer months to go camping, near a disused quarry close to home. I say camping, what I really mean is, we would find the excuse to be out for the night, so that we could get some illicit carryouts to get pissed up, and sleep it off before home the next day.

One night someone had the idea that we should have a camp fire. So we built what could be described as a mini bonfire out of old pallets, and branches, before going off to score some bottles of strongbow, and cans of special brew. Upon return, we met up with the guys who were guarding the fire, who had managed to get a large coke bottle filled with petrol. This was later used on the fire "to get it started", after a large part of the alcohol was consumed. However, dutch courage was first to hit me, when the question of who would light the fire arose.

So I walked, (okay staggered) over to the fire, and remember clearly smelling the fumes. However, I was in a happy mood, and when I sparked the lighter, and saw a large yellow light, the only thought crossing my mind was "That must be it lit then."

Upon refection, a shell suit would not have been my first choice of clothing for such an operation. Through sheer luck, or grace, I turned calmly around, and emerged unscathed from the fireball, in what my friends described as a scene reminiscent of "Terminator 2".